JenniferTiffany stands proudly in front of The Farmers Market that she and her husband Bill Hurtle will host again this summer at Tiffany Farms in Lyme. Photo by Olwen Logan
LYME, CT—On Saturday, May 25, The Farmer’s Market at Tiffany Farms in Lyme opens for the 2024 season from 9 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.
Happiness is a big bunch of fresh flowers! Photo by Lisa Tiffany Simiola.
Asked by LymeLine.com for her thoughts as to why the market has become such a success, co-founder Jennifer Tiffany responded by email saying, “The Farmers Market at Tiffany farms is the perfect opportunity to embrace Lyme’s appreciation for the preservation of agriculture and the importance of land stewardship.”
Welcome to the Farmers Market. Photo by Lisa Tiffany Simiola.
Tiffany and her husband Bill Hurtle run the market, which is now a perennially popular destination for both local and regional shoppers,
Tiffany notes, “All Department of Agriculture, Markets, Department of Health and CT Grown guidelines will apply.” She aspires to the same look as [Lyme Farmers Market at] Ashlawn,” with the aim being to offer a “very classy ” market, focused on Connecticut-grown or-produced items such as dairy, beef, vegetables, herbs, jellies and syrups.
A view of the iconic Tiffany Farms where the Farmers Market will be held. Photo by Lisa Tiffany Simiola.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School greenhouse pictured above will be renovated by a mutually beneficial partnership comprising the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden and Lyme-Old Lyme Schools.
Joint Project Will Reduce Local Food Insecurity, Advance Student Engagement
LYME/OLD LYME—The Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG) is partnering with the Region 18 School District to renovate the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School greenhouse. The project will advance the garden’s mission to reduce local food insecurity while serving as a site to foster student curiosity and engagement.
The LOLFSG share of the project is $8000, which represents approximately 40 percent of the renovation costs. The LOLFSG is raising money through a crowd-sourcing effort supported by Sustainable CT. If LOLFSG can raise $4000, then Sustainable CT’s innovative Community Match Fund will match the remaining $4000. Donations in any amount are welcome. To view an insightful video about the project and/or to donate, visit http://patronicity.com/greenhouserenovation.
This Sustainable CT Fund provides fast, flexible funding to implement projects that align with a variety of sustainability actions. The Fund is structured to support and amplify grassroots efforts that strive to transform their community, neighborhood, and town for the good.
Access to a greenhouse will allow the LOLFSG to increase production by starting and maintaining plants for late-season crops. While researching greenhouse options, Jim Ward, LOLFSG President, noticed that the aging middle school greenhouse was currently unusable.
Ward approached RSD 18 administration about a potential partnership to renovate and modernize the structure. Following a series of conversations between school personnel, garden members, and greenhouse professionals, the idea took root.
This photo shows the current interior of the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School greenhouse prior to the renovation project.
Garden volunteers will also maintain educational exhibits for use by students such as a vermicomposting (worm) bin and a hydroponic display. Teachers and students will have access to the greenhouse for classroom use or club projects.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden is a nonprofit organization started in 2021 to reduce food insecurity in local communities by growing and donating fresh produce. Located at Town Woods Park, the LOLFSG is a fully volunteer organization. In the past two growing seasons, more than 5000 pounds of fresh produce has been donated to the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries and the United Way.
Garden volunteers also compost food waste and maintain a pollinator pathway.
The Meeting Room at Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall was packed for the April 29 Special Meeting to discuss the Tantummaheag Landing proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding.
OLD LYME—At the March 29 Special Meeting in the Old Lyme Town Hall, the Old Lyme (OL) Board of Selectmen gave the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Draft between the Town of Old Lyme and the owners of 12 and 19 Tantummaheag Rd., George Frampton and Carla Darista Frampton.
A press release issued April 15, by the Old Lyme First Selectman’s Office described the MOU as an attempt, “to move toward a more final resolution of the current dispute,” and noted that, “The BOS and the Framptons have entered into an interim agreement for the next year regarding use of the so-called Landing.” Read this article titled, “Introduction of Draft ‘Memo of Understanding’ by Town of Old Lyme, Owners Moves Tantummaheag Landing Dispute Into ‘Less-Divisive Environment” by Olwen Logan and published April 21 on LymeLine.com for more details of the MOU, including both its full text, and the background to its creation.
More than 80 people attended the meeting and the majority of those who commented spoke against the proposal while a smaller number spoke in support.
The meeting ended with Selectwoman Jude Read (R) calling for a vote on whether to approve the MOU, which Selectman Jim Lampos (D) seconded.
Read then voted against the motion and Lampos, who had been the prime negotiator of the agreement with the Framptons, supported it. It was left to First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker (D) to break the tie.
Contrary to some expectations, since both Shoemaker and Lampos are Democrats and appeared to have supported bringing the MOU forward to the meeting, Shoemaker voted against the motion.
Later in the week, we asked Shoemaker via text why she had voted against the motion to approve the MOU on Monday night. She responded via email saying, “As I stated on Monday evening, I thought there were two strong components of the MOU draft. The one-year time term with the option to renew and the understanding that neither side was ceding any future rights or claims were positive.”
She added, “I believe the other concessions did not provide additional benefits to the town,” concluding, “I am also concerned that this could set precedent for future land disputes.”
We also asked George Frampton for his reaction to the meeting. He replied via email, “It is inexplicable to us that the Selectmen would vote against a common sense proposal to move toward a resolution of our dispute with the Town, after having (1) charged one of the board’s own members [Selectman Jim Lampos] (an expert in local historical archival documents) to investigate the true facts and make recommendations, then (2) authorizing him to work with the Town lawyer and us on that solution to negotiate a temporary “cooling off” period and full pedestrian access [along with] discussions the Town has never before allowed to us, while not giving up a single iota of town rights or claims while protecting our safety and security, and finally (3) approving bringing the MOU forward [to the Town.]”
He noted, “Instead of moving toward resolution, the Board has seems to have gone backwards three years.”
We asked both Shoemaker and Frampton where the Tantummaheag issue goes from here. On this, there seems to be some consensus.
Frampton said, “We hope the Board will reconsider this own-goal error and reconstruct a way to work together with us.”
Shoemaker responded, “We will be organizing a small group of town residents to further work on this issue. Multiple people have already communicated that they would be willing to serve on this committee. Mr. Frampton indicated to me after the meeting that he would be willing to work with me as well.”
She concluded, “I will provide more information on this next week.”
On Saturday, May 11, the Lyme Grange will host its Annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. theough 12 p.m.
LYME, CT—Blooms and buds, shining bulbs and tasty tubers will come to springtime life at the annual plant sale of the Lyme Grange on Hamburg Road on Saturday, May 11—the day before Mother’s Day.
The sale is open to the public without charge and will be held at the historic Lyme Grange building on Rte. 156 from 9 a.m. through 12 noon. The century-old building is familiar to many as the center of the Annual Hamburg Fair in August, which, like the plant sale, supports many Grange-assisted community activities throughout the year.
Last year the Fair attracted some 5500 people of all ages for fun and educational activities over a three-day period.
A great variety of flowering plants will be available at the Lyme Grange Plant Sale.
“The May Plant Sale that’s coming up will offer both decorative horticulture and tips for practical food-grade gardening,” explained sale coordinator Nancy Beebe. “This year we plan an even greater number of plants, which show the diverse growing skills of our neighboring, talented amateurs as well as top- ranked nurseries. The flowers and vegetables are suitable for planting right at home in your garden,” she said.
“Everyone who has a garden as a productive household hobby, or keeps beloved pets or domestic animals, should join us as we build stronger and more viable towns,” added Beebe.
“Last year we had a ‘growing class’ for kids which proved popular, and I’m sure we’ll see this again. They are taught by experienced gardeners, who like to see kids learn and have fun.”
“Our Grange has been a central support for traditional community events from our founding in 1896, and our people staff and judge many events and displays here. We can all learn from, and enjoy, one another.”
For more information, contact Nancy Beebe at nbeebe46@gmail.com or 860.304.8202.
The popular Duck River Garden Club Plant Sale takes place Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.
OLD LYME—The Duck River Garden Club Plant Sale is held every year on Mother’s Day weekend under the big tent at the Old Lyme Shopping Center on Halls Rd. Sale dates this year are Friday, May 10, from 12 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Buy plants for your own garden or as Mother’s Day gifts. There will be hundreds of healthy varieties including hanging baskets, geraniums, perennials, members’ plants, native pollinators, annuals, vegetables and herbs. The club’s assortment of geraniums is always a popular item. Preorder geranium for pickup at the sale by the Friday morning of the sale.
Duck River Garden Club (DRGC) serves Old Lyme and East Lyme providing landscape beautification including the civic sites around the town of Old Lyme. The club provides holiday wreaths for our public buildings as well as a weekly flower arrangement for the reception area at the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.
Geraniums and more will be on sale at the Duck River Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale.
Garden Club members are also involved in garden therapy, youth, and community outreach.
Proceeds from the sale support DRGC educational programs, scholarships, and civic beautification.
